Electrical connector with contact sealing means



J. A. NAVA 3,336,569

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH CONTACT SEALING MEANS Aug. 15, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1964 INVENTO R JOSEPH A NAVA BY V'W ATTORN EYS Aug. 15, 1967 J. A. NAVA 3,336,569

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH CONTACT SEALING MEANS Filed Nov. 17, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH A NAVA ATTORNEYS United States PatentIll., assignor to The Pyle- Chicago, [1]., a corporation of New ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector comprising a pair of rigidinsulators and a resilient disc sandwiched between the rigid insulators.Axially aligned bores are formed in the rigid insulators and in thedisc, with the diameter of the bore in one rigid insulator being greaterthan the diameters of the bores in the other insulator and in the disc.An electrical contact member extends through the bores. An annularlyshaped radially outwardly projecting rib disposed within the bore ofsaid one insulator is formed on the contact member and engages the discin abutting relation. A collet is mounted in the bore of said oneinsulator for engaging the rib of the contact member and for urging therib into pressing relation with the disc to compress the disc betweenthe rib and said other insulator to provide a good sealing relationbetween the rib and the disc.

The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors andmore particularly relates to an electrical connector wherein the contactmembers are insertable and removable from the rear of the connector andwhich incorporates an improved contact sealing arrangement wherein eachof the respective contact members is engaged by struck-out tines of acollet for retaining the member within the bore of an insulator and forcontinuously biasing a shoulder on the contact member against one faceof an elastic or resilient disc to trap and to compress the disc betweenthe contact member and the insulator.

The arrangement of this invention provides an exceptional seal betweenthe contact portions of male and female contact members. In addition,the number of parts is reduced and assembly is not only simplified butrequires less time.

The invention provides for rugged construction and a long, useful lifeof the connector aside from reducing manufacturing costs and providingan extremely effective seal.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide, in anelectrical connector, a substantially improved seal between the contactportions of male and female contact members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connectorcomprising a compression type seal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedconnector wherein a one-piece rigid insulator houses a contact memberretaining collet for urging an enlarged rib portion of a contact memberextending through the insulator against a face of a resilient insulatingdisc clamped against one end of the rigid insulator and through whichthe contact member also extends to provide a good sealing relationbetween the rib and the disc and to isolate that portion of the contactmember within the one-piece rigid insulator from that portion extendingout of the insulator and through the disc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a more simplyconstructed connector characterized by the incorporation of improvedsealing means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electricalconnector which is rugged in construction,

3,336,569 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 ICC requires a minimum number of parts,is easily assembled, is inexpensive in manufacture and embodies improvedsealing means.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanyingsheets of drawings, in which preferred structural embodimentsincorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by wayof illustrative example only.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a multiple pin connectorincorporating the principles of the present invention with portionsthereof shown in cross-section to illustrate the relation between parts;

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate respectively a cross-sectional side view andan elevational end view of the configuration of a contact memberretaining collet constructed in accordance with the principles of theinvention immediately prior to complete assembly of the collet in acollet-receiving bore of a rigid insulator;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are similar respectively to FIG- URES 2 and 3 butillustrate the configuration of the collet after it has been completelyassembled in the bore of the rigid insulator;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of a colletassembled within the bore of a rigid insulator and illustrates inelevation the forward position of a contact member or pin being insertedinto the collet and engaging the tines thereof, but before completeassembly of the contact member in the collet;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a collet of the invention in its sheet formconfiguration after struck-out tines and slots thereof have been formedbut before the collet has been wound or rolled into a tubular shape forinsertion into a rigid insulator; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIGURE 1illustrating the relation between parts.

As shown on the drawings:

Although the principles of the present invention are of generalapplicability, a particularly useful application is made to electricalconnectors incorporating multiple male and female current-continuingcont-act members which are insertable and removable from opposite endsof the connector and wherein sealing and isolating characteristics arerequired between the contact members generally and those portionsthereof which actually engage and make contact with each other.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated anelectrical connector 10 having a male component indicated at M and afemale component in dicated at F. The two components M and F constituteseparable members of a multi-pin or multi-contact connector assembly ofthe present invention. Comparable parts are indicated by like referencenumerals for the sake of clarity and brevity.

The male component M has a cylindrical housing 11 internally structuredto receive a wire or conduit connecting means 12 and a mounting means 13for retaining a plurality of male contact members 14. The housing 11also receives a thin sleeve or tube 16 adapted to retain the connectingmeans 12 and the mounting means 13 in position within the housing 11.The sleeve 16 is retained in position by an annular flange 17 which isformed internally within the housing 11 for engagement with acircumferential groove 18 formed on the sleeve 16.

An end portion 19 of the housing 11 is threaded as at 20 to receive anut 21 threaded complementarily as at 22.

Internally, the male housing 11 has a chamber 23 in which male insertionportions 24 of the male currentcontinuing member 14 are adapted to bepositioned.

Adjacent the chamber 23 the housing 11 has formed therein a smoothcylindrical bore wall 26 which is adapted to closely receive theperipheral surface of a resilient rubber sealing member or disc 27 ofthe male mounting means 13. The inner diameter of the bore wall 26 ispreferably of somewhat smaller diameter than the outer diameter of thedisc 27 to yieldably deform the periphery of the resilient disc 27 forimproving the seal between the housing 11 and the mounting means 13.

The female component F has a housing 28 having a cylindrical portion 29sized to be received in telescoping relation in the end portion 19 ofthe male housing 11 and providing a rib 30 for receiving in abuttingengagement an end wall 31 of the male housing 11.

The female housing 28 also provides a circumferential groove 32 adjacentthe rib 30 for receiving an annular ring 33 against which is biased bymeans of a shoulder 34 of the nut 31 a resilient seal member 36 forsealingly locking the male component M and the female component F injoined together relationship.

In general, the female housing 31 has formed thereon a flange 37 in thesame manner as the flange 17 of the male housing 11. A plurality offemale current-continuing contact members 38 are carried by mountingmeans 39 similar to the male mounting means 13 and a wire or conduitconnecting means 40 is also provided adjacent the mounting means 39. Asleeve 41 similar to the sleeve 16 of the male component effectivelyretains the mounting means 39 and the connecting means 40 in assembledrelation within the female housing 31.

Each male contact member 14 has a socket portion 42 on which is formedsubstantially centrally thereof a radially enlarged circumferentiallycontinuous rib 43 having a pair of axially spaced radially extendingfront and rear faces or shoulder surfaces 44 and 46 respectively whichare joined by an axially extending cylindrically shaped outer peripheralwall 47.

The male mounting means 13 comprises rigid cylindrical front and rearinsulating members 48 and 49, one or both of which may be of one-piececonstruction, with the cylindrical resilient rubber seal member or disc27 sandwiched therebetween. The rear insulator 49 has formedtherethrough a plurality of cylindrical contact member bores or passages45 for receiving the male contact members 14 and a collet 50 is retainedin each of the passages 45 for preventing withdrawal of its respectivecontact member 14.

The front rigid insulating member 48 has an outer surface 51 with astepped configuration forming a rib 51a which is disposed between therubber disc 27 and a radial shoulder 52 formed on the inner wall 26 ofthe male housing 11. In addition, the front insulating member iscounterbored at one end to form a plurality of cylindrical passages asat 53, each of which is axially aligned with one of the passages 45 ofthe rear insulating member 49. The diameters of the respective passages53 are smaller than the diameters of the ribs 43 formed on theirrespective male contact members 14.

A plurality of holes or bores 54 are formed in the rubber disc 27 andare arranged to align in registry with the respective passages 45 and 53of the front and rear insulating members 48 and 49. The disc holes 54have diameters which are smaller than the diameters of the correspondingribs 43 and may preferably have diameters somewhat smaller than thediameters of the corresponding passages 45 in the rear insulating member49.

As shown, the rubber disc 27 is sandwiched between end or abutment walls48a and 49a of the front and rear insulating members 48 and 49, and theouter diameter of the disc may be slightly oversized with respect to thediameter of the bore wall 26 to provide a good seal between theinsulating members along the bore wall 26.

The female contact members 38 are each provided 4- with a socket portion56 having a male receiving cavity or socket bore 57 formed therein, anda rib 58 the diameter of which may be equal to the diameter of the rib43 of the corresponding male contact member 14.

The female contact mounting means 39 is similar to the male mountingmeans 13 and comprises a rigid front insulating member 60 and a rearinsulating member 61, a rubber seal or disc 62 similar to disc 27 beingsandwiched therebetween.

The front insulating member 60 has a plurality of counterbored elongatedcontact bores or passages 63 formed therein, each of which is axiallyaligned with an opening 64 for receiving an insertion portion 24 of amale contact member 14. In addition, the rear insulating member 61 has aplurality of passages 66 formed therein, each of which is axiallyaligned with one of the passages 63 of the insulating member 60. Thedimensional characteristics of the passages 63 and 66, the ribs 58 andthe rubber disc 62 may be substantially similar to corresponding partsof the male portion M of the connector 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the collets 50 is housedcompletely within its respective rear insulating member, which maypreferably be of rigid one-piece construction.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, the collets 50 are each constructedfrom a thin, elongated rectangularly shaped sheet-form member 50a whichhas formed therein a plurality of tines 70 arranged in alignedside-by-side relation. Each of the tines 70 is formed by a pair ofspaced parallel leg slots or grooves 71 interconnected at one endthereof by means of a transverse slot 72.

The sheet-form members 50a are constructed of resilient material such asmetal and have parallel rear and front edges 73 and 74 and a pair ofparallel end edges 76 and 77, and may be folded or wound into thetubular or annular configuration shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, wherein theopposed end edges 76 and 77 form an axially or longitudinally extendingslot 78. A forward or free end 79 of each of the tines is pushedradially inwardly to engage the rib of a respective contact member.

FIGURES 2 through 6 are described in relation to the male component M,but it will be appreciated that the description and the figures aresimilarly applicable to the female component F.

In order to effect a snap-in assembly of the collets 50 in theircorresponding rear insulating members, lug and groove means areprovided. For example, a plurality of circumferentially spaced colletretaining key portions 80,

which may also be designated lugs or shoulders, are 1 formed in thepassages 45 of the rear insulating member 49, and each comprises aradially inwardly inclined and axially outwardly extending slopingsurface 81 and a radially extending shoulder surface 82. Also formed inthe passages 45 in axially spaced relation to the shoulder surfaces 82are collet retaining shoulders 83 which are formed respectively of achamfered portion 84 and a radially extending shoulder surface 86 which,in cooperation with the shoulder surface 82, forms therebetween anaxially extending groove 87, the diameter of which is substantiallyequal to the diameter of the corresponding passage 45.

Although it is necessary to provide only one key in each passage toretain a collet therein, more than one per passage may be effectivelyutilized, and in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 3, twocollet retaining keys are shown within the passage 45 for the purpose ofretaining the collet 50 therein, and such keys 80 may be convenientlycircumferentially spaced by In order to receive the keys 80, one of theleg slots or grooves 71 of each of a pair of tines 70 is enlarged asindicated at 71a of FIGURE 7 and extends axially when arranged inassembled condition to receive the entire sloping portion 81 of therespective keys.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a collet 50 after it has been Wound or rolledinto a tubular configuration, and after it has been partially insertedinto the passage 45. The rear edge 73 of the collet 50 has been urgedradially inwardly by the ramps provided by the sloping portions 81 ofthe keys 80 whereby a rear end 88 of the collet 50 has been radiallycompressed and the corresponding rear portions of the end edges 76 and77 of the collet have been urged together to reduce the width of theslot 78 at such rear end of the collet.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate a collet 50 after it has been completelyassembled within its respective rear insulating member 49 and it will benoted that the rear edge 73 of the collet has been moved forwardlysufiiciently such that the key members 80 have been received by theenlarged slots 71a of the collet 50. As a result, the collet hasresiliently expanded to a true tubular shape as exemplified by thespaced parallel disposition of the wall 76 and 77, which now form arectangularly shaped slot 89. The rear wall 73, as illustrated in FIGURE4, forms a shoulder which faces the opposing shoulder surface 86 of thecollet retaining shoulder 83 to prevent further axial movement of thecollet 50 in the direction of the shoulder 83, and the lugs or shouldersformed by the front walls 71b of the enlarged slots 71a are inoppositely-facing relation to the corresponding shoulder surfaces 82 ofthe collet key members 80 to preclude reverse axial movement orwithdrawal of the collet.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the complete collet retainingmeans for retaining the collets in the rear rigid one-piece insulatingmembers of the male and female components resides exclusively withinsuch rear insulating members and the collets themselves, and requires noadditional retention means.

As illustrated in the enlarged view of FIGURE 6, the free state diameterof the free ends 79 of the tines '70 is less than the diameter ofportion 42 of the male contact member 14, and as the contact member 14is inserted, spreading effect of the tines is produced. As bestillustrated in FIGURE 1, after the contact members have been fullyinserted into their respective collets, the free ends of the tines areresiliently radially inwardly contracted to abut against the enlargedribs 43 of the contact members, thereby preventing withdrawal of thecontact members.

In addition, the tines are bent radially inwardly sulficiently in theirsheet-form configurationsuch that in an assembled condition, whenengaged by the contact members, there will remain a radially outwardbias exerted on the tines which will, in turn, maintain a radiallyoutward bias on the collet to assist the natural resiliency or springaction of'the collet to maintain engagement thereof with I the colletkey members 80.

Referring to FIGURE 8, it will be noted that the front face 44 of therib 43 of the male contact member 14 is not only firmly engaged with butis actually depressed within a rear face 90 of the disc 27, which notonly forms a good sealing relation therebetween, but also forms asealing relation between a portion of the outer peripheral wall 47 ofthe rib 43 with a contiguous portion of the disc 27.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that in like manner, the ribs 58of the female contact members 38 are engaged with and slightly depressedwithin a rear face 91 of the rubber disc 62. In addition, the discs 27and 62 are supported at opposite front faces 92 and 93 respectively bythe front insulating members 48 and 60, whereby the discs are actuallyclamped and compressed between the ribs and the insulating members toprovide an exceptional seal.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably comewithin the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a connector,

a contact member having an annular radially outwardly extending ribforming a shoulder,

a tubular insulator made of rigid material and having a bore formedtherein for receiving said contact member,

a resilient disc having one face engaging said shoulder of said contactmember and having an opening through which said contact member extends,means forming an abutment wall on said insulator engaging the oppositeface of said disc and having an opening formed therein axially alignedwith and of substantially the same size as said opening in said disc,and a collet in said bore having struck-out tines engaging said rib andurging said rib against said disc and said disc against said abutmentwall, whereby said disc is snugly sandwiched between said rib and saidabutment wall to provide'a seal between said one face of said disc andsaid shoulder of said rib.

2. In a connector,

a contact member having an annular radially outwardly extending ribforming a shoulder,

a tubular insulator made of rigid material and having a bore formedtherein for receiving said contact member,

a resilient disc having one face engaging said shoulder of said contactmember and having an opening through which said contact member extends,means forming an abutment wall on said insulator engaging the other faceof said disc, and a collet in said bore engaging said rib for urgingsaid rib against said disc and said disc against said abutment wall,whereby said rib displaces the material of said disc to form acompression seal therebetween.

3. In a connector,

a contact member having a rib forming front and rear shoulders,

a tubular insulator made of rigid material and having an abutment wallformed thereon, a contact bore of a predetermined diameter formed insaid insulator and opening to said abutment wall for receiving saidcontact member,

a collet ,made of resilient material and being radially compressible toa diameter less than the diameter of said bore to allow insertion insaid bore,

said collet and said bore having complemental lug and groove meansformed thereon for effecting snap-in assembly,

said collet having struck-out tines engaging said rear shoulder of saidrib and,

a resilient disc having an opening dimensioned less than that of saidrib through which said contact member extends and having one facethereof engaging said front shoulder of said rib, and an opposite facethereof engaging said abutment wall, said collet urging said rib againstsaid disc and said disc against said abutment wall so that said frontshoulder of said rib and said one face of said disc snugly abut in goodsealing relation.

4. In a connector,

a tubular rigid insulator,

a resilient insulating disc,

clamping means pressing said disc against said insulator,

a cylindrical contact member receiving bore of a given diameter formedin said insulator and an axially aligned bore of a smaller diameterformed in said disc,

a contact member extending through said born and having an annular ribsituated within the bore of said insulator and forming a shoulder,

the diameter of said rib being greater than that of the bore of saiddisc and said front shoulder of said rib abutting said disc, and

a collet securely retained in the bore of said rigid insulator andhaving means to press said rib against the disc to trap and to compressthe disc between said shoulder and said clamping means for forming aseal between said shoulder and said disc.

5. In a connector, first and second rigid insulators and a resilientinsua contact member insertable into said first insulator to extendthrough said bores and having an annular radially outwardly extendingrib situated within the bore of said first insulator and forming firstand second shoulders,

the diameter of said rib being greater than that of said bore of saiddisc and said second insulator and said second shoulder of said ribabutting said disc, and

a collet securely retained in the bore of said first insulator andhaving a plurality of struck-out tines engaging said first shoulder andoperative to urge said rib against said disc to trap and to compresssaid disc between said second shoulder and said second insulator forforming a seal therebetween.

In a connector,

front and rear rigid insulators and a resilient insulating discsandwiched in between said rigid insulators, contact member receivingbore of a given diameter formed in said rear insulator and axiallyaligned bores of smaller diameters formed respectively in said disc andin said front insulator, contact member extending through said bores andhaving an annular radially outwardly extending rib situated within thebore of said rear insulator and forming front and rear shoulders joinedby an outer peripheral wall,

the diameter of said rib being greater than that of said bore of saiddisc and said front insulator and said front shoulder of said ribabutting said disc, and collet securely retained in the bore of saidrear insulator and having a plurality of struck-out tines engaging saidfirst shoulder and operative to urge said 8 rib against said disc totrap and to compress said disc between said front shoulder and saidfront insulator for forming a seal therebetween.

7. In a connector, front and rear rigid insulators and a resilientinsulating disc sandwiched in between said rigid insulators,

a cylindrical contact member receiving bore of a given diameter formedin said rear insulator and axially aligned bores of smaller diametersformed in said disc and in said front insulator,

said diameter of said bore in said disc being at least as great as thediameter of said bore in said front insulator,

contact member extending through said bores and having an annularradially outwardly extending rib situated within the bore of said rearinsulator and forming front and rear shoulders joined by an outerperipheral wall,

the diameter of said rib being greater than that of said bore of saiddisc and said front insulator and said front shoulder of said ribabutting one face of said disc, and a collet securely retained in thebore of said front insulator and having a plurality of struck-out tinesengaging said rear shoulder of said contact member,

said tines operative to urge said front shoulder against said disc totrap and to compress said disc between said front shoulder and saidfront insulator and to press said rib into said one face of said disc toform a seal between said disc and said front shoulder and said outerperipheral wall of said rib.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,258,737 10/1941 Browne 3391772,383,926 8/1945 White 339-61 2,450,528 10/1948 Sprigg 339-130 X3,029,407 4/1962 Burton et a1 33989 X 3,068,443 12/1962 Nava et al339-217 3,182,278 5/1965 Bridle 33959 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, PrimaryExaminer.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Examiner.

1. IN A CONNECTOR, A CONTACT MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR RADIALLY OUTWARDLYEXTENDING RIB FORMING A SHOULDER, A TUBULAR INSULATOR MADE OF RIGIDMATERIAL AND HAVING A BORE FORMED THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SAID CONTACTMEMBER, A RESILIENT DISC HAVING ONE FACE ENGAGING SAID SHOULDER OF SAIDCONTACT MEMBER AND HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID CONTACT MEMBEREXTENDS, MEANS FORMING AN ABUTMENT WALL ON SAID INSULATOR ENGAGING THEOPPOSITE FACE OF SAID DISC AND HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN AXIALLYALIGNED WITH AND OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS SAID OPENING IN SAIDDISC, AND A COLLET IN SAID BORE HAVING STRUCK-OUT TINES ENGAGING SAIDRIB AND URGING SAID RIB AGAINST SAID DISC AND SAID DISC AGAINST SAIDABUTMENT WALL, WHEREBY SAID DISC IS SNUGLY SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID RIBAND SAID ABUTMENT WALL TO PROVIDE A SEAL BETWEEN SAID ONE FACE OF SAIDDISC AND SAID SHOULDER OF SAID RIB.